Another thing has triggered my POCD.

Once again, back again with another "my nephew is here and I can't handle it" thing. Basically, my nephew has been running around in only underwear, and I've been trying even harder than I normally do to NOT look at him. As I leave my room to do something though, he's just STANDING there with his back turned to me, and my eyes just land on him without me meaning to. I immediately start panicking inside, looking at the wall and almost tripping. I do what I needed to do and run back to my room, and the image of him I saw keeps entering my head. My mouth starts watering and groinal responses start, and I just feel really gross and truly cannot tell if what I'm feeling is my genuine desires or not anymore.

POCD

titaniumonetwo

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 18h

You're dealing with this the wrong way. You shouldn't be trying not to look at him. That's a compulsion and will make this worse and go on longer. I know how incredibly difficult this is but your brain is misfiring danger and you're telling it there really is danger by avoiding him, not looking etc. To your brain you're effectively going "thanks for telling me about that danger, you really helped keep me safe there!" And your brain is going "Roger that, will do that next time and more too!"

Pratyush271

Date posted: 18h

I face the same thing but with private parts of my family members and some times random people too. What can I do?

titaniumonetwo

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 18h

@Pratyush271 I know this is so easy to say and so difficult to do but the aim should be not to 'do' anything. Don't try to fight the thoughts, just have a nonchalant attitude to them. It's trying to get rid of them that gives them power. Look really carefully for what your compulsions are, in my therapy that's been perhaps the number one most valuable thing. I thought my compulsion was ruminating. That was true but there are lots of others too. Whatever you're doing to "feel safe" is a compulsion. A therapist is really helpful with this as they're difficult to spot. A lot of the time with mine I've said things like "yes but I don't see that as a compulsion I just see it as normal"

Plushii

Date posted: 18h

Remember you’re feeling fear not attraction 🫶

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